Wild-horse advocates split over interior nominee

Wild-horse advocates may be unified in opposition to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, but they're split over President Barack Obama's choice to replace him. Horse defenders have sharply criticized Salazar, saying nearly 40,000 mustangs have been removed from the range across the West during his four-year tenure, which ends in March. Suzanne Roy of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign says her group "responded optimistically" to Obama's nomination of Recreational Equipment Inc. chief Sally Jewell. Roy notes Jewell's background as a conservationist and outdoor enthusiast. But Anne Novak of California-based Protect Mustangs says she's skeptical because of Jewell's background as a Mobil Oil engineer and commercial banker. Madeleine Pickens of Saving America's Mustangs says she "welcomes the change," and is hopeful Jewell's background means she has empathy for mustangs. AP